PHIL Younghusband and Angel Locsin
Celebrity footballer Phil Younghusband would rather not put any label to his relationship with actress Angel Locsin. What’s important, he said, is that they’re enjoying each others’ company right now.
“For us, the status or what you call the relationship, doesn’t matter to us. We’re just very, very happy … I try to spend time with Angel as much as possible,” Phil told the entertainment press in a recent press con that launched him and elder brother James as football ambassadors for AKTV—TV5’s sports block on IBC-13.
In their three-year contract, the brothers will be hosting short instructional football videos, drills and lifestyle tips, which will be aired in between AKTV programs. The deal also serves as an opportunity for them to further inspire the youth to take up the sport—an advocacy they’ve been pursuing since 2009 via the Younghusband Football Academy.
Very caring
Phil, who described Angel as “one of the most amazing people” he has ever met, said that despite being together for months now, each day still feels like it’s their first.
“She teaches me Tagalog … Tagalog songs, things like that. I learn a lot from Angel. She’s very down-to- earth. She’s human … very caring,” said the soft-spoken Azkal forward and Loyola Meralco Sparks Futbol Club midfielder.
But the couple’s relationship is not all fun and games, Phil stressed. “I’m serious about Angel and I want to have a future with her.”
Phil also looks forward to see fans cheering for the Azkals in their coming friendly match against international football superstar David Beckham and the LA Galaxy team on Dec. 3.
Asked if he and Angel have tried playing football together, Phil smiled and said, “I hope to teach her in the future, but marami siyang ginagawa. She’s busy … with a new movie coming up. When we have time, I’d love to teach her.”
Poster boy
Although football is Phil’s priority, the 23-year-old athlete said he’s not closing his doors on the prospect of joining show biz. But at the moment, acting is out of the equation. However, Phil doesn’t mind doing photo shoots for magazines and endorsements once in a while—although he finds these things more tiring than playing football.
He also enjoys the glamour of being one of the poster boys of the local football scene.
“Yeah, it’s always good to drive down Edsa and see your billboard,” he said, laughing. “And to know that you’re promoting football at the same time is good. Obviously, one of my heroes is David Beckham, and to see me doing the same thing he does is great.”
What Phil doesn’t appreciate, however, are the random and sometimes bizarre rumors that seem to come out of nowhere. “Sometimes I hear things and I’m like, ‘Where did that come from? How did you even think of that?’ It’s all new to me,” he said.